Keikis-The Next Generation

[sandra]

I just removed two keikis from my soft cane dend. They're potted in tiny pots, maybe 2 inches. The mother plant started producing lots and lots of keikis after I mistakingly bathed it in rubbing alcohol instead of hydrogen peroxide a while back. Interesting side note: when I depotted the plant then (first time) I noticed that it was in sections, not one entire plant but sections cut and put in one pot for sale. I suspect the grower was able to make more plants for sale by doing this. I'm keeping the plant now just for the keikis it's producing. This was my first orchid, I've never lost one yet and even though I'll end up trashing this one, it'll give me quite a few in it's place.

I have absolutely no idea how to care for this or if its' requirements at this early stage are different. I'm thinking that I should let them soak up rather than water into the pot when I do water them.

Anyone with experience in caring for keikis, please share your knowledge with me!

The first photo is to give you an idea of how long the roots were before removing. The roots in the middle of each keiki go all the way down to the bottom of the pot.

P.S. I used only small pieces of bark from my mix.

[BillC]

Sandra, the roots look to be in excellent condition and would nearly fill that size of pot. I'm sure they will do very well for you. My choice for media would have been coir and perlite with a dash of charcoal, a la Mike Mayres,and I don't think it will make any difference watering from below or in the usual manner whatever the medium you use.

I hope you will keep us updated on the rate of growth as time goes by. Forgot to mention, I must get some rubbing oil!!

Bill

[sandra]

Bill, perlite, coir and charcoal are in the mix which is predominantly bark mix.

Originally Posted by BillC

Forgot to mention, I must get some rubbing oil!!
Bill

What are you talking about?

[fred]

sandy you have done a good job with the keikis

they look nice and healthy.

just a little tip dont get to much water on the keikis if the water gets down into the center of the kekies they will start to rot.

please keep us updated with there growth.

congrats well done

[sandra]

I'm bumping this thread UP, hoping someone with keiki experience (no, I didn't say, "kinky", I said "keiki") can advise me on their care. Watering? Light?

[blksunsh1ne]

Speaking of keikis, how did you remove them? I have 2 phals that have a keiki growing off of them, and Ill eventually remove them once the roots get big enough, but any recommendations on how to remove them?,articles?, photos?? photos of how would be great!

[BillC]

quote ' P.S. I used only small pieces of bark from my mix. '

Sandra, sorry I missed your reply and the question. What I was talking about. I was under the impression that you were using bark for the media. Just bark and nothing else. Some long time ago Mike posted in a thread on potting media that he used coir, perlite and charcoal for his media, and nothing else. I believe the proportions were 80% coir, 20% perlite and a few bits of charcoal. This is what I was talking about when I mentiond my preference for potting the keikis.

Bill

[sandra]

Originally Posted by blksunsh1ne

Speaking of keikis, how did you remove them? I have 2 phals that have a keiki growing off of them, and Ill eventually remove them once the roots get big enough, but any recommendations on how to remove them?,articles?, photos?? photos of how would be great!

That depends where on the plant it's growing blksunsh1ne. It's advised that if it's hard cane and growing low on the cane, to leave it and let the roots grow into the media. Otherwise, if the keiki's roots are around 2 inches, you need to hold it firmly but gently (of course) and begin twisting from side to side until it gives way. Mine ended up practically popping off. Otherwise using a razor and removing it, avoiding cutting into the keiki at all.

[sandra]

Had I not potted them up this way, I would have after reading your suggestion to. Thanks much Bill. I'm glad I was doing something right with all of this.

Originally Posted by BillC

Sandra, sorry I missed your reply and the question. What I was talking about. I was under the impression that you were using bark for the media. Just bark and nothing else. Some long time ago Mike posted in a thread on potting media that he used coir, perlite and charcoal for his media, and nothing else. I believe the proportions were 80% coir, 20% perlite and a few bits of charcoal. This is what I was talking about when I mentiond my preference for potting the keikis.
Bill

[pikevi]

sandra, it looks very professional!

I have a few keikis growing and I am glad you posted those pix.

Thanks.

[sandra]

I'm glad you're glad pikevi! How are you caring for yours, watering, in particular? What kind are you growing?

Originally Posted by pikevi

sandra, it looks very professional!

I have a few keikis growing and I am glad you posted those pix.

Thanks.

[Anton]

When potting Den kingianum keikis, I dampen the roots, and then dip them in rooting powder before potting and they really take quite quickly.

I use a medium bark and coir with a small amount of sphagnum moss mixture to enable them to hold. As they grow and get longer roots, I'll then transfer them to a purely medium bark mix as they can then have more support from the roots.

Two weekends ago I cut the 2 keikis off my Phal pulchra and planted them in a fine bark mix and they have grown about 1/4 inch already !!!
Wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't seen it myself.
There's a third on the way, just waiting for the roots to get a little longer before cutting it off.

[butt0n]

Thanks for posting the pictures Sandra! I have a nobile dendrobium with a keiki that has 3 roots nearly 2" long, but that's it. I was wondering if it would be wise to wait a bit more before separating it from the main plant? Possibly until it has a few more roots?

[sandra]

butt0n, far from an expert at it as this was my first time doing this but they're growing and growing if that's an indication. I just took another keiki off another dend. and that too is doing well so far. It had roots of about 2 inches, like yours with only 3 roots. I've read somewhere on this forum that (I think) it's recommended to wait until the roots are a bit longer but according to my experience so far, I'd say yours is ready for it's own potting. Nobiles may have rules of their own so hopefully, one of the gurus here will chime in on this thread. Good luck with it!